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Sarasota Open's main draw gets underway

The 2016 White Sands Realty/Joey Gratton Sarasota Open will continue through April 17.


  • By Jen Blanco
  • | 5:16 p.m. April 11, 2016
  • East County
  • Sports
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The 2016 White Sands Realty/Joey Gratton Sarasota Open is now underway at the Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center. 

Qualifying singles play concluded April 11 with a thrilling three-set tiebreaker on the James T. Driscoll Stadium Court with Hungary's Peter Nagy coming back to defeat France's Axel Michon 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to earn a spot in the main draw. 

In addition to four qualifying singles final matches, the first round of the main draw also began with American Noah Rubin defeating fellow American Denis Kudla 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(8). 

The first round will continue April 12 with matches scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. 

 

Hungary's Peter Nagy won a thrilling three-set tiebreaker in his final qualifying match April 11.
Hungary's Peter Nagy won a thrilling three-set tiebreaker in his final qualifying match April 11.
American Connor Smith sends the ball back over the net during his opening match of the 2016 White Sands Realty/Joey Gratton Sarasota Open April 11.
American Connor Smith sends the ball back over the net during his opening match of the 2016 White Sands Realty/Joey Gratton Sarasota Open April 11.
El Salvador's Marcelo Arvelo races to the ball in the first set of his qualifying singles match.
El Salvador's Marcelo Arvelo races to the ball in the first set of his qualifying singles match.
Jose Hernandez-Fernandez of the Dominican Republic prepares to serve the ball during the first set of his qualifying singles final.
Jose Hernandez-Fernandez of the Dominican Republic prepares to serve the ball during the first set of his qualifying singles final.
American Connor Smith serves the ball during his opening match of the 2016 White Sands Realty/Joey Gratton Sarasota Open April 11.
American Connor Smith serves the ball during his opening match of the 2016 White Sands Realty/Joey Gratton Sarasota Open April 11.
Argentina's Facundo Arguello returns a serve during his first-round match versus American Connor Smith.
Argentina's Facundo Arguello returns a serve during his first-round match versus American Connor Smith.
France's Axel Michon returns a serve during his final qualifying match April 11.
France's Axel Michon returns a serve during his final qualifying match April 11.
Marcelo Arevalo awaits to see whether or not the ball landed out of play.
Marcelo Arevalo awaits to see whether or not the ball landed out of play.
El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo hits the ball back over the net during his qualifying singles final April 11.
El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo hits the ball back over the net during his qualifying singles final April 11.
New Zealand's Jose Statham returns a serve during his qualifying singles final April 11.
New Zealand's Jose Statham returns a serve during his qualifying singles final April 11.
Ecuador's Emilio Gomez won his qualifying singles final versus Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga 6-3, 6-2.
Ecuador's Emilio Gomez won his qualifying singles final versus Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga 6-3, 6-2.
Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga of Colombia competes in a qualifying singles final match.
Juan Manuel Benitez Chavarriaga of Colombia competes in a qualifying singles final match.

 

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